Let’s start with: 1. Know what you want Assess yourself first. What skills are you good at? If you aren’t tied up with your work, parents, or friends, what would you be doing right now? And most importantly, what makes you truly happy? When you’re happy with what you are doing, you get satisfied and you can cope easily with a stressful situation. “Happiness depends on ourselves.” According to Aristotle so, take time and a few moments to think about what makes you truly happy. Is it traveling? Working in an office? Or be a licensed massage therapist?
Once you know what really want proceed with gathering information.
2. Do some research a. Look online, give yourself an overview, an idea on what massage therapist is? What do they do? What skills and knowledge you need to possess? What are the requirements and qualifications to become one? How much will you earn? This following question will be your guide.
b. Find a massage therapy school that has accreditation you can search online and read the school’s about page, the programs they offer. Once you have selected a school try to find time to visit the school, before making a decision. Accredited schools will ensure you a high quality of education that meets the standards. 3. Enroll to a massage therapy program You need to complete at least 500 to 1000 hours of clinical experience or training, these may last up to 2 years but most require at less a year. Massage training program usually covers the anatomy and physiology, therapeutic principles, general education like ethics, hands on techniques in a given massage modality and other electives. Note: To enroll into a massage therapy training and program you need to have a high school diploma or GED for admission. And always check your state requirement for massage therapy licensure exam because every state has different requirement. This then will prepare you to take the licensure exam in massage therapy, once you get your certificate or credentials in massage therapy. 4. Learn and Apply Going beyond learning is the application of what you have learned in any situation and the whole idea of putting knowledge and skills into practice. Try to practice what you have learn in the training to your friends or a family member evaluate what they need, recommend and give the best massage, and try to get their feedback and take it as a point of improvement. So when you get a license, you are a total package of skills and knowledge.
5. Be a Licensed Massage Therapist! After taking all the courses in massage therapy and earning a passing score you’ll graduate with specific certification or with a degree, depending on the program you take. You are now ready to step into a next level of your career, Be a licensed massage therapist. Apply to an approved national licensure exam in massage therapy like National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) or Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx). And please do double check with your state for any additional instruction. Note: All licenses have expiration, to keep certificate and licensed valid enroll to a continuing education.